Happy pride month everyone! I have some things planned but I took a break from my schedule to write one to celebrate pride month. Also I have absolutely no idea how a pride parade works, so I'm sorry if this is inaccurate. Enjoy!

Nico's POV

He could feel the music running under the floors, beating up through his shoes and shaking his core. All around him were men; men dancing with each other, men dancing near each other, men practically on top of each other. Nico watched with a bitter sort of jealousy from the sidelines of the party, a small smile on his face as he watched the action unfold before him. It hadn't been his choice to go. He hadn't been planning on going but Percy's indignant squawk over the phone had pushed him into his best outfit and through the doors of one of the most popular gay night clubs in the area. "You can't just not do anything the night before the pride parade," Percy had insisted over the phone. "It's, like, going to be the best night of the year for you! You're lonely, admit it. You need to get out there, meet someone new, and there's no better night to do it." 

So Nico stood on the sidelines of the party, eyeing the men walking past him, tall and muscular and too hot to be real.  He peered past the dancing throngs of people, trying to spot someone just as awkward as he was so he could make his way over to them and try to spark up a conversation. But it seemed as if the entire club was having the night of their lives, with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces. Everyone except for Nico. Heaving a sigh he pulled out his phone, a text from Percy lighting up the screen. Don't even think about leaving before eleven it read. That's pathetic, if you leave before eleven. The time on the screen read nine forty three and Nico slipped it back inside his pocket, staring around. His eyes landed on the bar, lit up by strings of rainbow neon lights. It wasn't crowded, with a single worker wiping down the countertop and one man with his back to Nico, sipping on a fruity looking drink with a cherry on the glass. Nico pushed himself up from the wall, slipping past dancers to take a seat on one of the stools. "What will you be having?" the bartender asked, giving him a small smile. 

"I'd like a quick second, thanks," Nico said. He pulled out his phone to check the time. Nine forty nine, it read, along with another text from Percy. Talk to someone!! Nico's eyes fell on the man at the bar with him, his light blonde hair falling in waves across his forehead. He was staring outward to the dance floor, taking the occasional sip of his drink. His foot tapped to the beat of the pounding music but unlike so many others he had seen the man wasn't on the dance floor. "That looks good," he said nervously, nodding to the drink. He bit his lip at the light tremor in his voice but when the man looked over to him he put on a smile. There was no turning back. 

"It really is, actually," he said, tilting the drink. "I didn't think I'd like it, but I wasn't sure what else to get. It's fruitier than I thought, though."

"Would you recommend it?" Nico asked. 

"Definitely," the man said. 

"I'll have whatever he's having," Nico told the bartender. The bartender had a small smile on his face as he poured the drink, accessorizing it with the same cherry he had used for the man's drink. When Nico took a sip he was hit with five different flavors, all blending together to create the perfect taste. 

"You like it?" the man asked. 

"It's amazing," Nico said. "It's like a thousand different fruits playing a concert in my mouth." The man laughed, the sound infectious and his smile bright. 

"I'm Will," he said. 

"Nico." 

------

It seemed like seconds talking to Will, his words coming easily as they made conversation but when Nico checked his phone he was shocked to see that it was ten forty three. Along with the time was yet another text from Percy. You can leave now, if you really want to. You were there long enough. Nico bit his lip as he stared at the text, Will's voice seeming far away when he next spoke. 

"So, do you want to dance?" Nico tossed one last look at the text before clicking off his phone, slipping it inside of his pocket. 

"Sure." After all, it was pathetic to leave before eleven.

Their bodies seemed to meld together on the floor, the neon lights passing over their bodies, lighting up their moving feet, swinging arms, smiling faces. Nico had always been clumsy, his feet tripping over every lump and bump on the floor but with Will he seemed to move seamlessly. His arms wrapped around Will's body, mashing together on the dance floor. There had been a time where Nico had hated parties, dances, meeting new people. But now, with Will, he loved it all. 

The music was low as the night wore on, the beat slowing as Nico and Will swayed back and forth, Nico's head pressed into Will's chest as the music pushed them closer and closer together. "What time is it?" Will mumbled, his hand clutching Nico's. His palm was soft, fingers laced around Nico's. Nico didn't want to take his head from the warm surface that was Will's chest but he grabbed his phone from his pocket, the white light illuminating his features. 

"One thirteen," he murmured. Will shut his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"I should go," he sighed. "The parade is tomorrow, and I want to be well rested." 

"I'll walk you out," Nico offered. They wound their way through the pairs of people swaying together, stepping out of the club and into the warm, summer night air. The lights of the cars still lit up the night but the hoards of people had wound down, replaced with a small handful of stragglers stumbling back to wherever they had come from. 

"My hotel is this way," Will said, gesturing down the long, winding street. 

"My apartment is that way." Far, far away from Will's hotel. Nico winced. They both exchanged long glances, questions in their eyes. 

"Bye," Will whispered quietly, giving a small wave. 

"Bye." They turned around, Nico fiddling with his shirt sleeve before taking a step. When he turned around, Will was gone. 

Will's POV

It was four thirty in the morning when Will was jolted awake by a pounding heart, terror and regret shooting through his veins. No, no no no no no. How could he have been so stupid? Nico. Nico from the bar, Nico with the flowing black hair and the sweet smile. Nico, the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Nico, the person whose number he didn't have. He groaned, burying his head underneath his pillow and squeezing his eyes shut. How could he be so stupid? Nico had been there with him for the entire night and not once had he asked for his number. He had one day. One day to find Nico again. One day until he would be on a plane, flying back to California and Nico would still be in New York, and they would never see each other again. One day for a shot at a relationship, until the opportunity would be gone forever.

------

The parade was bigger than he had anticipated. What seemed to be thousands upon thousands of people crammed into the street, clad in rainbow clothes and bright face paint. There were people kissing, hugging, laughing and in each couple he saw what could have been with him and Nico. Or what might be, as long as he could find Nico amid the crowds. Will scoured the masses as he moved down the streets, stared at every person buying rainbow donuts and rainbow shirts. There were men of all sorts, men more attractive than Will had ever seen but not a single one with glossy black hair and a small smile that tugged at the corner of his heart. He hopped up on his heels, fighting to see past the tall heads and hoping to catch a glimpse of the only person he wanted to see that day. But he couldn't find him and with each passing second he began to feel his heart sink lower and lower in his chest. 

"Hey." The voice from behind him made him spin around, a smile spreading across his face. He expected to come face to face with Nico's dark eyes but he found himself staring at a tall man, light brown hair swept to the top of his head, light green eyes staring into Will's. There was a grin on his face, a smirk that made Will's mouth drop open. 

"Hi."

"You with anyone?" Will shook his head, still speechless. The man was undoubtedly gorgeous, with the body of a model and the face of an angel. His eyes seemed to hold secrets that drew Will in, but something about the man seemed wrong. Maybe he was simply too beautiful, or maybe it was because he wasn't Nico. "It's a strange thing, to find someone at pride alone," the man said, his grin widening. "Strange, but wonderful. I'm here alone, too, you know."

"Really." 

"Maybe, we don't have to be alone at pride," the man said, raising his arm to scratch his head. The muscles underneath his tight shirt rippled, the top rising up so Will could see a hint of a toned six pack. "So, what do you say? You want to grab a drink?" The half smile seemed to widen as the words passed his lips and Will could feel himself staring up at the man like a five year old staring at an ice cream sundae. It took him a few seconds to snap out of his funk, giving a little shake of his head and putting on an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I'm looking for someone."

"Well, that's a shame," the man said. "You're sure you won't have one drink? We can just hang out, chat maybe?" Will shook his head. 

"Sorry, I have to find him." The man seemed bemused, the smile slipping down but he didn't seem unhappy. 

"Well, good luck," he said, giving Will one last smile. "Whoever you're looking for, he must be really special."

"He is," Will said, grinning at the ground. "He really is."

------

The first time he saw the shock of black hair, he felt his heart stop in his chest. "Nico?" he called out, jumping up to see Nico walking down the street, eyes desperate as he stared around at the crowds. "Nico!" This sparked a response in him and his head whipped around, eyes darting around the street. When he spotted Will's face his eyes lit up and he waved, jumping up and down as the moving throngs of people blocked him from sight. Will pushed through the people, excitement building inside of him and exploding like fireworks when he was standing in front of Nico. 

"I never thought I'd see you again," Nico said, his words catching in his throat. "I tried to look for you but I didn't think I could find you again." 

"I didn't think I would ever see you again, either," Will said. "But here we are. Seeing each other." Nico laughed.

"Yeah," he grinned. "It's a miracle."

"So, what about a drink?" Will suggested. "There's a cute little coffee shop I spotted on my search for you. We can talk, hang out and maybe I could get your number so this whole thing doesn't happen again." Nico grinned as he wrapped his hand around Will's, his fingers squeezing  tight.

"That sounds perfect."

Nico's POV

Will was smiling from across the small round table, one hand wrapped around the iced coffee cup and the other covering Nico's hand. There was something about staring into Will's warm blue eyes, seeing the smile on his face that made Nico feel like he never wanted to leave his seat. All around him were happy couples, couples in matching tee shirts with matching smiles on their faces. Nico had never thought that he would be one of those people, holding hands and smiling in a quaint little coffee shop with a cute boy across from him. But somehow it had happened. Somehow he had met someone, someone amazing and cute and funny. Somehow, he had met someone who made him happy. "So, what do we do after today?" Nico asked, peering over his drink nervously. "When pride is over and you leave? I really like you, Will. I want to see you again."

"You will," Will promised, giving Nico's hand a squeeze. "I'll delay my flight and stay a little longer. Because I don't want this to be the end either. This shouldn't have to be the end. It won't be."

"But how are we going to make this work?" Nico asked. "We're going to need a plan, or-" Will cut him off with a kiss, soft lips to Nico's as he leaned over the table. 

"We don't have to worry about all of that quite yet," Will said with a smile. "It's pride, after all. We're celebrating. Soon we'll work it all out but right now, we don't have to. Let's just spend time together." Nico nodded as a smile split his face. 

"Later," he said. "But for now, we just spend time together." Nico leaned across the table to press another kiss to Will's lips. There would be thousands of miles between them, thousands of experiences left to be had together. But there, in the midst of a celebration of them, they wouldn't have to work it out just yet. Because when they were together, there were no problems that needed solving, no issues to work out. All they needed to worry about was each other.

Hi guys, I know that wasn't my best work but next week summer break starts so I'm going to be putting a lot more time into these. Anyway, I hope you liked it!

Nina